MDCH warns residents about whooping cough

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Holland Sentinel

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Posted Aug. 6, 2014 at 3:49 PM

Posted Aug. 6, 2014 at 3:49 PM

Holland, Mich.

As Michigan continues to see new pertussis cases this year, the Michigan Department of Community Health reminds residents of the importance of being up-to-date on all vaccinations, including pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

Through the end of July, the state has seen 546 cases, about 45 percent more than in the same period of 2013. Several other states, including Ohio, California and Florida, are reporting similar increases.

Pertussis is a respiratory infection caused by a bacterium that results in a prolonged illness. Severe coughing episodes are often accompanied by vomiting and difficulty breathing. In some cases, a characteristic “whooping” noise is heard as the afflicted person tries to catch their breath.

Once extremely common, vaccines developed in the U.S. in the mid-1940s and helped drive down the occurrence of pertussis. But in recent decades, pertussis has been making a comeback.

Babies get a first dose of the vaccine at 2 months of age, but they are not optimally protected until completing the series of several more doses over the next year and half. The MDCH strongly recommends that adults or adolescents who will be around infants receive the recommended pertussis booster vaccine dose, and that all residents receive their vaccines on time.

If you are uncertain about whether you or your children have had all recommended vaccines and doses, speak with your doctor or contact your local health department.